Screw-type propulsion unit



June 25, 1963 J. E. MEYER SCREW-TYPE PROPULSION UNIT Filed Dem 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

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June 25, 1963 J. E. MEYER SCREW-TYPE PROPULSION UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16. 1958 Fig.2

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Joseph E. Meyer INVENTOR. wi-SL.

United States Patent 3,094,966 SCREW-TYPE PROPULSION UNIT Joseph E. Meyer, Sparta, Wis, assignor of two thirtyfifths each to William H. Meyer, Martha Meyer, Herbert Meyer, James Meyer, Beverly Meyer, Davis Meyer, and Eugene Meyer, all of Athens, Wis.

Filed Dec. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 780,864 9 Claims. (Cl. 115-15) This invention relates to propulsion systems and more particularly to a hydraulic propulsion system for a boat or other water traveling device.

An object of the invention is to provide a new propulsion system for a boat to replace the conventional propeller that is used on larger ships, boats and submarines. Although the principles of the invention are applicable principally in connection with ships, boats and the like, the invention has a broader application including those situations requiring liquid pumping, for instance in irrigation, as a booster for pipelines or in other systems where large volumes of liquid must or should be moved.

When used as a substitute for the conventional boat propeller, there are no shear pins, no loss of the propeller if the shaft breaks, and there are numerous other advantages such as the ease with which a system in accordance with this invention may be repaired from directly within the boat and above the water line.

One of the features of the invention providing a distinct improvement over other conventional and non-conventional systems is that there is a chopper for small sticks, weeds, string, etc., the chopper cutting these objects into small harmless pieces before they enter the pump chamber in this system. This is in distinction to screens and the like used at the forward part of a boat, because such screens become clogged materially reducing the etficieney of a propulsion system.

This propulsion system is capable of being operated to move large volumes of liquid at low speeds with very small slippage. Further, this system is well adapted for directional control by adjusting the position of the after part of the jet tube whereas, conventional system ordinarily rely on rudders to achieve the same result.

The invention embodies a jet tube having an inlet and an outlet, together with an anger screw located in the jet tube and adapted to be rotated by a conventional engine, motor or the like. The screw has cutter blades on its leading edge or has its leading edge formed as a rotating cutter which coacts with a stationary cutter mounted in the jet tube. Accordingly, debris is cut into harmless size pieces before entering the convolutions of the screw during normal and ordinary operation of the hydraulic system.

As the screw rotates water is drawn from the inlet and expelled through the outlet of the tube. In order to prevent this water from rotating with the screw, there are retreating abutments located between the convolutions of the screw to block the rotational motion of the water, enabling the water to travel practically wholly in an axial direction with reference to the pump chamber and axis of rotation of the screw. This increases the pumping efficiency.

There are certain other features of this invention making it a more practical and efiicient system. For instance there are one or more air inlet openings upstream of the screw and in the side wall of the jet tube, these preferably having a venturi forming structure connected with them. As the water rushes through the jet tube to enter the pump chamber, the aspirator effect of the openings in the water confining wall of the tube introduces air into the tube up stream of the propulsion screw. The screw and pumping chamber should be conical and the outlet pipe smaller in diameter than the intake pipe. The smaller discharge 3,094,966 Patented June 25, 1963 pipe keeps the air bubbles compressed until they approach the end of the discharge tube, and as they expand the speed of the water leaving the discharge pipe is increased. This will pump in reverse as well as forward by more than one method of propelling the abutments mentioned previously.

Further, the pump is primed by applying a suction to the tube in the region of the screw, so that the propulsion system may be set into operation practically at once in response to rotation of the propulsion screw in the tube.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the boat, parts broken away to show internal detail, the boat diagrammatically representing one of the many environments wherein the principles of the invention may be applied.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the boat in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of construction showing one manner of controlling the application of suction to the jet tube in response to the liquid level of the tube.

In the accompanying drawings there is a boat 10 in which propulsion system 12 is installed. Although the propulsion system 12 is shown installed in boat 10, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is intended to embrace other fields apart from boats and the like. System 12, separated from boat 10, is a pumping system for moving large quantities of water and may be used not only in the several environments mentioned herein previously but may be used in all other applications where it is desired to move large quantities of liquid, regardless of the nature of the liquid.

System 12 has a jet tube 14 with a water intake 15 at the bottom of the hull of boat 10, and a water discharge 18 at the aft of the boat. The liquid, Water in this instance, is adapted to enter intake 16 and to be discharged through the discharge 18 in order to attain boat propulsion. There is an auger type screw 20 located in pump chamber 22 formed between axially aligned sections of the tube 14. The auger type screw is shown with three convolutions, although the number of convolutions may be increased or decreased in accordance with engineering design. Regardless of the number of convolutions, the screw is mounted on a typical shaft 24 with an end bearing 26 carried by a part of casing 28 and an intermediate anti-ftiction bearing 30 carried by another part of casing 28. The shaft, after passing through an opening in the down curved front part of tube 14, is connectcd with a motor or engine 32, whereby torque is available for rotating the screw.

Casing 28 is attached, for instance by bolts 34 to a side of tube 14. Slot 36 in tube 14, has the retreating abutments or walls 38 passed therethrou'gh. Each abutment is made of a flat vane and preferably has a friction reducing roller 40 between its root and tip. The rollers 40 are particularly advantageous when the retreating abutments are propelled in their constrained path of travel by the action of the screw 20 as it rotates. The rollers may 3 be retained when the retreating abutments are otherwise operated or they may be omitted.

As seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, casing 28 is made of two sections 44 and 46 that have flanges bolted together at 48. As seen in FIGURE 3 a portion of the casing fits flush against the outer surface of tube 14, and it is this portion which seals slot 36. Further, the confronting surfaces of sections 44 and 46 have oval cam tracks 50 and 52 within which pins 54 and 56 on opposite faces of each abutment 38, are located. This constrains the travel of each abutment, and the movement of the abutments is attained by endless conveyor chain 60 which is engaged with sprockets 62 and 64. The sprockets are keyed or otherwise attached to spindles 66 and 68, one of which has a bevel gear 70 secured to its end. The bevel gear is located in a gear case 72 (FIG. 5) attached to section 46 and from which shaft 74 extends. A bevel gear 76 is secured to shaft 74 and is coupled to lay shaft 78 FIG. 1) by a universal joint 80. The lay shaft is supported by hearings on hearing brackets or hangers and is driven by shaft 24 through gearing 82 attached to shaft 24 and shaft 78 respectively. It is now evident that rotation of screw 20 and retreating motion of the abutments 38 are synchronized. The abutments 38, being fiat, prevent the liquid that is moved by auger screw 20 from rotating as it is displaced by the screw.

As the liquid enters intake 16 debris may enter with it, Debris that is sufficiently buoyant to float and any other debris would would ordinarily enter tube 14 is capable of being chopped fine enough so that only harmlessly small pieces enter the pump chamber 22. Chopper 90, therefore, is o-peratively connected with the auger. The chopper is made of a movable blade 92 on the leading edge of each convolution of the screw, and a stationary cutter bar or stationary blade 94 attached in the tube 14. Stationary cutter bar 94 is shown extending radially across one-half of the tube and secured at its end to the hanger for hearing 30. As auger screw 20 rotates the blades 92 thereon wipe across the edge of stationary blade 94 or move very close to the stationary blade to sever the debris as it enters the pump chamber 22.

In order to increase the efliciency of the pumping system, there are one or more, preferably a plurality, of openings 98 in tube 14. These are air inlet openings around which there is an enclosing structure 100. The I structure 100 is composed of a housing extending upwardly a distance so that the flap valves 102 are adjustably carried by one wall thereof always above the water line to control admission of air through inlet apertures 104. The housing embraces a part of the tube 14 or may be made in some other way however, the interior of the housing is in registry with openings 98 for the admission of atmospheric air which passes through openings 104, to the interior of tube 14 upstream of the screw 20. Therefore, when water is flowing past the openings 98, a reduction in static pressure at such point will induce a flow of air into the tube 14. Air which is compressible as compared to water will therefore be carried with the water into the pumping chamber.

The screw and pumping chamber are conical so that the pump discharge portion of the tube 14 will have a smaller diameter than the pump inlet portion. The smaller discharge portion would therefore compress the air bubbles in the water until the bubbles approach the discharge 18 and expand to increase the speed of the fluid mass leaving the discharge 18 and thereby provide a propulsive boost. This will operate in both forward and reverse direction. Further if the abutments are gear driven they will be as shown, but if otherwise operated rollers may be provided on both edges instead of only one edge.

Further, in some instances it may be necessary to prime the pump so that it may be started quicker. Where the water level of the pump is low in chamber 22, the level may be lifted by the application of a vacuum or suction in the region of the pump chamber. Engine suction or a separate pump or any other source of vacuum may be connected by vacuum line with tube 14. Control valve assembly 112 is interposed between vacuum line 110 and tube 14. The assembly 112 is made of a float valve chamber 114 whose walls are attached to tube 14 over aperture 116 in the tube 14. Float 118 is movably mount ed in chamber 114 and operates needle valve 120 movable toward and away from seat 122 in accordance with the liquid level in float chamber 114. A spring closed check valve 124 is located in the passageway 126 which registers the float chamber 114 with the suction line 110. It is evident that upon application of a suction sufficient to open spring closed valve 124, the suction will be applied to the interior of tube 14 by drawing a vacuum through aperture 116. This vacuum is cut-off as soon as the liquid level in float chamber 114 is sufficient to move needle valve 120 against its seat 122.

The foregoing i considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A hydraulic pumping system comprising a tube having axially aligned liquid pump inlet and outlet passage port portions, a pump chamber in said tube between said inlet and said outlet passage portions, a drive shaft adapted to be driven from a power source, a screw secured to said shaft and rotatably mounted in said chamber to displace liquid in said chamber and move the liquid through said outlet portion, rotational flow blocking means drivingly connected to said drive shaft for separately powered movement through said pump chamber for restricting fluid flow through said chamber to axial flow, said tube having at least one air inlet opening upstream of said screw, air passage control means communicating with said air inlet opening for controllably admitting air to the tube for compression by the screw and subsequent expansion, and suction means connected to said tube upstream of said screw to elevate the liquid level in said tube for initial propulsion of incompressible liquid through said tube.

2. A hydraulic pumping system for a boat comprising a jet tube to conduct liquid for propulsion of the boat and having liquid intake and discharge ports, a pump chamber in said tube between said ports, a drive shaft adapted to be driven from a power source, a screw secured to said shaft and having a spiral blade rotatably mounted within said chamber to displace liquid in said chamber and move the liquid through said discharge port, an abutment drivingly connected to said shaft for separately powered movement in an axial direction through said pump chamber in timed relation to the spiral blade of said screw to prevent the water being moved by said screw from rotating with the rotary movement of said screw, and friction reducing rolling means carried by said abutment and contacting said blade, and a chopper in said tub-e upstream of said screw and operable simultaneously with rotation of said screw to chop debris prior to entering said pump chamber.

3. A system for moving large volumes of liquid, said system including a tube having axially aligned liquid pump inlet and outlet passage portions, an auger screw mounted for rotation in said tube between said inlet and outlet passage portions, means connected to said auger screw for rotating said screw, and a retreating abutment in said tube and engaged between and axially movable with the convolution of said auger screw for preventing the liquid that it is being moved by said screw from substantial rotation with the auger screw, said moving abutment consisting essentially of a plurality of vanes extending radially across a portion of said tube within which the screw is disposed and interdigitated between the convolutions of said screw, means connected with said vanes for constraining the movement of said vanes, said tube having an air inlet near said screw, and means registered with said tube adjacent to said screw for priming said tube.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said vanes are provided with friction reducing rollers contacting a surface of the convolutions of said screw as said moving abutments retreat.

5. In combination with the pumping system of claim 1, a marine vessel having a stem from which said tube extends rearwardly in parallel oifset relation to the inlet and outlet passage portions, and a bottom through which an intake portion of said tube extends for connection to said inlet passage portion, said air passage control means extending upwardly from the air inlet opening in the tube always above the water line of the vessel.

6. In combination with the system of claim 3, a marine vessel having a stern from which said tube extends rearwardly in parallel olfset relation to the inlet and outlet passage portions, and a bottom through which an intake portion of said tube extends for connection to said inlet passage portion.

7. A propulsion system for marine craft or the like comprising, flow passage means for conducting incompressible fluid between intake and discharge, conical pump chamber means connected in axial alignment between straight sections of said passage means for both pressurizing said incompressible fluid to induce flow thereof and volumetrically compressing compressible fluid, propulsion booster means responsive to flow of incompressible fluid through the flow passage means for introducing compressible fluid thereinto for compression in said chamber means and expansion through the discharge, and axial flow impelling means rotatably mounted Within said chamber means for inducing flow of said fluids.

8. The combination of claim 7 including rotational flow blocking means powered for axial straight line movement with respect to the axial flow impelling means within the chamber means in operating timed relation to the axial flow impelling means.

9. In combination with the system of claim 7, a marine vessel having a stern through which said discharge extends in parallel offset relation to said pump chamber means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 16,025 Suczek Mar. 17, 1925 114,507 Knowles May 2, 1871 1,306,572. Bartlett June 10, 1919 1,551,362 Barton Aug. 25, 1925 1,946,097 Morris et a1 Feb. 6, 1934 2,409,497 Kessel Oct. 15, 1946 2,473,603 Miller June 21, 1949 2,636,467 Johnson Apr. 28, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,786 Austria Apr. 10, 1906 188,683 Germany Aug. 5, 1907 390,495 France Oct. 6, 1908 435,075 France Feb. 21, 1912 

1. A HYDRAULIC PUMPING SYSTEM COMPRISING A TUBE HAVING AXIALLY ALIGNED LIQUID PUMP INLET AND OUTLET PASSAGE PORT PORTIONS, A PUMP CHAMBER IN SAID TUBE BETWEEN SAID INLET AND SAID OUTLET PASSAGE PORTIONS, A DRIVE SHAFT ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN FROM A POWER SOURCE, A SCREW SECURED TO SAID SHAFT AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CHAMBER TO DISPLACE LIQUID IN SAID CHAMBER AND MOVE THE LIQUID THROUGH SAID OUTLET PORTION, ROTATIONAL FLOW BLOCKING MEANS DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVE SHAFT FOR SEPARATELY POWERED MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID PUMP CHAMBER FOR RESTRICTING FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID CHAMBER TO AXIAL FLOW, SAID TUBE HAVING AT LEAST ONE AIR INLET OPENING UPSTREAM OF SAID SCREW, AIR PASSAGE CONTROL MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID AIR INLET OPENING FOR CONTROLLABLY ADMITTING AIR TO THE TUBE FOR COMPRESSION BY THE SCREW AND SUBSEQUENT EXPANSION, AND SUCTION MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TUBE UPSTREAM OF SAID SCREW TO ELEVATE THE LIQUID LEVEL IN SAID TUBE FOR INITIAL PROPULSION OF INCOMPRESSIBLE LIQUID THROUGH SAID TUBE. 